ITD provides peace and quiet along with pedestrian safety

Finding the right balance – or volume – sometimes is difficult to satisfy the needs of a diverse community. Ask a new tenant in Sandpoint … and District 1 traffic engineer Michael Porcelli.

ITD recently installed four audible crosswalk signals at First Street and Pine in Sandpoint to assist the vision-impaired in crossing the busy Pine Street/U.S. 95 intersection. The signals indicate where vision-impaired pedestrians could find the button to activate the crossing light and to indicate when it was safe to use the crosswalk.

The locator tone is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act, Porcelli explains. But the audible signal was keeping a nearby apartment tenant from sleeping. So the resident, “Sleepless in Sandpoint,” contacted ITD and ask for relief from the constant beeping.

“The pedestrian warning signal beeps are very loud and do not stop at night. With all the windows in my apartment closed, they are still frustratingly audible all night long. During the day, I realize they are intended to be louder than the normal noise of this busy part of town, but at night they are the only constant sound and they are LOUD.

I understand the purpose of these noises, and I agree that they are an important safety feature, but with the new Sandpoint Bypass now open, the beeps certainly do not need to be running 24 hours a day (if they need to run at all; most heavy traffic now is being diverted around town.)

After the evening rush hour, this intersection has no more vehicle traffic than any other intersection in town, and it has decidedly LESS foot traffic than several other intersections in the area that do not have the audible crosswalk beeps …”

Porcelli said he would attempt to remedy the concern. The volume on the tones was reduced to make them audible only within about three feet of the speaker.

The change means “Sleepless” is resting easier these days. He also was impressed at how quickly ITD responded to his concern he replied with another e-mail:

“I cannot tell you how much better I have been sleeping these past few nights. I hope it was not too inconvenient, and of course let’s hope that it doesn't adversely affect anybody else …

I never would have guessed that the problem would be dealt with so quickly! You folks are really top-notch. Nothing restores one’s confidence in society like a little civic involvement. If anybody ever wants to drop by my humble abode for a cup of coffee and admire the peace and quiet, you’ll always be welcome. May your glass always be full and the roads easy to maintain.”

Published 9-14-2012